Great News From Arizona Federation Of Taxpayers

I just received this great news from Tom Jenney, Arizona state director, Americans for Prosperity.

ARIZONA FEDERATION OF TAXPAYERS

A STATE CHAPTER OF

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 26, 2008

State GOP supports ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying,

lower state spending limit

PHOENIX—At the Arizona Republican Party’s mandatory meeting today, state committeemen voted overwhelmingly to support legislative referendum bills that would allow voters in November to institute a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying and lower the state’s constitutional spending limit. Both bills are championed by the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

“One party down, two to go,” said AFT-AFP state director Tom Jenney. “The passage of these resolutions greatly strengthens the state GOP’s claim that it is a party of fiscal conservatism and fiscal responsibility,” he said. “We hope to achieve similar support from Arizona’s other political parties.”

If passed by a majority of legislators during the current legislative session, SCR 1009, also known as No Taxpayer Money for Lobbyists, would allow Arizona voters in November to prohibit the use of public funds for lobbying, while safeguarding the ability of public agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and political subdivisions to provide expert testimony and information to members of the Legislature.

URL for text of the ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=4794&state=az

If passed by a majority of legislators during the current session, HCR 2038 would give voters in November an opportunity to amend Arizona’s constitutional spending limit to cap spending by the state government at no more than 6.4 percent of state personal income. (The current constitutional limit is 7.41 percent.)

URL for text of the spending limit resolution:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=4795

Contact: Tom Jenney, Arizona state director, Americans for Prosperity

tjenney@afphq.org (602) 478-0146

A Personal Dilemma

I don't want to say the wrong thing here, as I believe the issue I will address is quite sensitive.
Yesterday, a new blogger, who chose to use the pseudonym "OVWEBSLEUTH," made a lengthy comment concerning Council Member Terry Parish.

Those of you that may have read what was said, would appreciate, as I did, that the comment based on PUBLIC RECORD information was not at all complimentary to Terry and indeed was quite hurtful.

As is our policy, bloggers can choose to comment using their name or a pseudonym of choice. I will state unequivocally, I do NOT know the identity of "ovwebsleuth."

Last evening Terry sent me a private email expressing his concern to ----not so much himself, but to his family, as to what was said.

Late in the evening, I responded to Terry's email explaining my dilemma as to whether or not I should delete the comment. (As blogmaster, I can delete, but NOT edit comments, so it was "all or nothing.") I wrote Terry that I felt the comments were not "a personal attack," but PUBLIC RECORD, and indicated as such, I would not infringe on the writer's Freedom of Speech----especially since, I recently saw fit to fight the town on that issue.

This morning, Terry responded to my email, and, once again, in a cordial manner, requested I remove the "hurtful comment."

As Terry has stated, he and I disagree on most every issue, but I respect him for taking positions and being honest about his beliefs. As a result of his attitude, I have reconsidered, and with apologies to "ovwebsleuth" and other readers who may not agree, I have taken ALL comments, as it pertains to Terry's personal life off of the blog.

I hope those who may be offended by my decision will understand I did this because I think it's the right thing to do.

Sincerely,

Art Segal